Many school and law enforcement officials say the National Rifle Association's proposal that an armed officer be stationed in every school in the country is not the answer to stopping violence and killings such those at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., a week ago.

Many school and law enforcement officials say the National Rifle Association's proposal that an armed officer be stationed in every school in the country is not the answer to stopping violence and killings such those as what happened at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., a week ago.

Some called the proposal announced yesterday “shameful,” “ridiculous,” “disconcerting” and “impulsive and wrongheaded.”

Instead, they say stricter gun control and tougher penalties for violators are needed, as well as more resources to deal with students who have mental and emotional issues.

The NRA's position that the “only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun,” is disconcerting, said Worcester Police Chief Gary J. Gemme. He said the mere presence of firearms in schools places students and the public in danger.

“Arming schoolteachers, school administrators, and school security personnel as a solution to gun violence borders on the absurd. These are not real solutions,” said Chief Gemme.

He said practical solutions include banning the sale and possession of military-type weapons, large-capacity magazines and certain types of ammunition. Also mandatory waiting periods and closing loopholes to mandatory background checks will have a tangible impact. “Getting the courts to act more aggressively to deal with gun violence is a real solution that can start immediately,” Chief Gemme said.

Clinton Superintendent of Schools Terrance Ingano said he thinks the NRA is missing the point.

“Schools are not built to be jails and they are not built to be fortresses. They are supposed to be welcoming, and that would not be it,” said Mr. Ingano, who said the NRA proposal is ridiculous. “I would rather see us pay for more teachers and more technology and let us do some improvements in our security.”

Robert F. Pezzella, school safety liaison for the Worcester Public Schools, said four Worcester police officers, known as school police liaison officers, and two members of the Police Department's gang unit, are available when an alleged crime has been committed. They also walk through most of the schools daily to show their presence. The School Department and the city share the cost.

He said that instead of having armed officers assigned to each school, funding should be put toward resources, including mental health counseling for students in the system's five alternative secondary schools.

“We have learned from many national profile experts that a lot of youths and young adults who commit acts of violence in our schools have some type of mental health and emotional problems. If intervened early, we could possibly prevent further actions of aggression or violence,” Mr. Pezzella said.

“As far as outside intruders coming into schools to cause mass casualties, I understand the purpose of having an armed officer. However, we don't feel that's the panacea to solving national school violence,” he added.

Sean M. Gilrein, superintendent of the Dudley-Charlton Regional School District, said the issue is multi-faceted and complex.

“In this particular tragic issue, I don't think there is any one answer, and quite frankly, speaking as a parent, it is grossly irresponsible to suggest that having a police guard in every building would have prevented what happened,” Mr. Gilrein said.

Auburn Police Chief Andrew J. Sluckis Jr. agreed. He said an armed police officer in a school would make someone think twice about committing acts of violence, but it would not stop someone who is determined to enter a school and shoot people.

“It is somewhat like a restraining order. People who have active restraining orders still die each year. It is difficult to legislate human behavior,” Chief Sluckis said.

Paul Toner, president of the Massachusetts Teachers Association, in a prepared statement, called the NRA's proposal “impulsive and wrongheaded.”

“As we continue to mourn the Sandy Hook victims, Massachusetts educators remain fully committed to providing every child with a safe learning environment,” he said. “In the days ahead, we expect to work with President Barack Obama, our congressional delegation and Gov. Deval Patrick to advance reasonable proposals toward this goal. This will involve increasing access to mental health services and a focus on preventing bullying, as well as meaningful action to decrease gun violence.”

”I think it is interesting they (NRA) propose something that has nothing to do with the NRA. They felt they had to say something and what they said had nothing to do with one of the major problems — assault weapons — which ought to be banned, except for police and the military,” he said. “I don't want to take guns away from hunters but I don't think anybody needs a bushmaster.”

“Are they paying for it?” was the first response of Tom Scott, executive director of the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents, when told about the NRA's proposal. “If not, then they should get real.”

“What we're doing is grabbing onto the most simplistic way of dealing with this, which in some ways is impractical,” he said. “I question whether we've looked at all the alternatives first. This seems like a pretty dramatic move. What it suggests to me is very frightening in terms of where we are in society.”

Randi Weingarten, president of the Washington-D.C.-based American Federation of Teachers, strongly criticized the National Rifle Association in a press release yesterday.

“After remaining silent for an entire week following the Newtown massacre, the NRA's first comments were to call for more guns in our schools and our society. This is both irresponsible and dangerous,” he said. “No matter how much money the NRA spends or propaganda it tries to spread, one thing is clear — the NRA is not serious about confronting the epidemic of gun violence in our nation.”

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